Bulgarian martial artist Sotir “The Trouble” Kichukov (13-6) has gone back to his roots ahead of his upcoming bout at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES on 26 January.
Kichukov is based in Vietnam these days, but decided to return home to Bulgaria to visit family and friends, where he was greeted like a returning hero.
While he was back home, he visited his old high school in Pomorie and saw how he could be a positive influence on the next generation.
“I met the young generation, I met my old teachers, it was a really great time there. They took pictures with me. It was very exciting,” he said.
“There was one skinny kid that was smart. I went to the Physical Education class, and he said ‘I cannot do more than ten push-ups.’ But I motivated him, and he just did 30 push-ups. It was so awesome. The teachers said, ‘You motivate them.’ It was great.”
Kichukov takes on “The Southern Eagle” Ma Hao Bin (9-1) in Manila looking to improve on his 13-6 martial arts record as he continues a martial arts journey that started a decade ago when he decided to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and learn martial arts.
Under the tutelage of his first coach Teodor Karastoyanov at Warrior MMA Club, he won the Bulgarian Kickboxing Championship and the Max Fight Bantamweight Title.
As well as winning in competition, his life in general was changing for the better. Having previously mixed in the wrong circles before finding martial arts, Kichukov now found himself becoming a better character, with a better attitude.
“I became more disciplined. I started respecting people more, like my teachers in school,” he said.
“I improved my grades in school, and my parents were very happy. They even said they were very thankful – they are still very thankful – to my first coach.
“And afterwards, many doors started to open for me, because everybody likes athletes. Usually, athletes are good people. They are respectful and disciplined. So there were many things I could do here in Bulgaria. I had many opportunities.”
He signed for ONE Championship in September 2015, making history as the first Bulgarian athlete to compete under the ONE banner, but life in the ONE Championship cage has been tough for “The Trouble”.
He lost his debut to BJJ black belt Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev, then dropped a three-round decision to Mark “Mugen” Striegl, but Kichukov isn’t allowing his recent setbacks to get him down.
“I just really do not care about the losing streak any more,” he said.
“I want to be back, and I will be back, but it does not matter. These are just numbers on some website.”
He’ll be looking to snap that losing run when he drops down a weight class to take on Ma Hao Bin in a flyweight contest on 26 January at ONE: GLOBAL SUPERHEROES in Manila.
Ma is a Chinese National Wrestling Champion and has looked a real talent since his arrival in ONE Championship, capturing the ONE Changsha Bantamweight Tournament Championship, beating two men, both within 68 seconds, on one night to claim the championship crown.
The Chinese grappler enters the contest riding a seven-bout win streak, including a first-round armbar finish of Filipino striker Eugene Toquero at ONE: HERO’S DREAM last December.
It’s a stiff test for Kichukov, but it’s one he says he’s fully prepared for.
“I have improved my ground game a lot,” he explained.
“I have great cardio, I can go forward, I can go backwards, I can wrestle. I can do everything. I am ready.
“I have to be worried about not being worried about anything, and just go forward and show my skills. I wish to enjoy myself, to go there and enjoy the day with a free mind, and just showcase myself.
“I know I am going to get him. I do not know when, I do not know which round. But I am going to get him.”